Female in heat - Page 2

Euroshepherd, I agree, for around 2500 you can buy so many great lines and dogs. Akeemi is wonderful but were not into breeding anyway. We just love everything about her and would love to have another akeemi when she gets past her time. I wish dogs could live through our lifetimes. We have the two dogs and really don't want anymore than that at once. Is it better to alter the male? With akeemi we have Ando ethen and he is a great dog also. For long term health reasons is it best to alter male or female or both? In the past I only had stray and unwanted dogs that were altered to stop the over populating of pets.

For the best, long term health the female should be altered as any intact female is at risk for pyometra (a potentially life threatening uterine infection), ovarian/uterine/mammary cancers and breeding her in itself can cause all kinds of complications that could take her life.  I think males should be altered later in life if not being used for breeding, around 5-6 IMO, to prevent testicular cancer.  Breeding a litter is very difficult, expensive and time consuming.....immagine 8 little alligators running around, chewing, pooping, getting into everything, 8 little alligators that may not find suitable homes at 8wks...8 little alligators that may stay with you for 6mos+!  You have to be prepared for complications; toxic milk, heaven forbid loosing mom, the female rejecting the litter, any of which means you have to hand raise and bottle feed the babies round the clock.  All things to consider when you consider breeding her.  If I was in your situation, reading your posts, I would probably just spay her and buy another puppy from similar lines or the same breeder when the time comes, in the meantime I would enjoy my girl without those pesky heat cycles.

"Those pesky heat cycles" are NATURAL and NECESSARY. I think anyone who really feels that way about a dog's natural design should perhaps consider whether a dog is truly the right pet for them. Where did we humans get the idea that it's fine and dandy to alter and remove entire body systems from animals whose best interests we are supposed to be looking after in favor of our own conveniences? 

I found out through progesterone testing, that my female ovulated on day 7 of that cycle, much earlier than I expected. That surprised me and taught me to be ever diligent from day one instead of thinking I had a week before being more careful with her. I also quickly learned that my female tried to get to my male almost as bad as he tried to get to her. Just FYI.

Hang in there.

Annamarie

Jeni, I agree that heat cycles are both natural and necessary in bitches that may eventually be bred...however, to me, they are still no fun, quite pesky, yet something that is put up with in a show bitch that may eventually be bred.  I do not enjoy the hormonally crazed heat monster girl prior to/during cycles, doggy diapers that stay on poorly, doggy diapers that my girls take right off when I'm not looking, scrubbing blood off of couches/beds/carpets when those diapers come off, I do not enjoy my male dog howling at all times of the day and night, going off his food, drooling and looking like a sex crazed maniac, I don't enjoy separating everyone, but HEY, its all part of keeping a bitch intact in a multiple dog household, especially one with an intact dog present.  I would spay every bitch in my house if I did not show and breed, simply because any intact bitch is at risk for pyo, cancers and potential accidental breedings.  The fact that I do no enjoy my females going into heat has NOTHING to do with the fact that I enjoy dog ownership.  6wks of heat every 12mos is just fine with me, but for a normal, companion dog owner it may be a hassle, esp one that is quite busy. A majority of people should not have intact bitches, a majority of people should have their females (well bred, super quality or not!) spayed as not everybody has the time or dedication to raise a litter (not speaking of the OP, just in general).  Also in general, its healthier for a companion bitch to be spayed, rather than taking the risks of the complications that can present themselves with keeping a bitch intact.  Just my opinion.